Jung has established himself as the top Asian alpine skier after winning gold medals at two consecutive Asian Winter Games. The 29-year-old, who began skiing at the age of three, started competing internationally in 2004.

In January 2017, he took 14th in the men's slalom event at the Alpine Ski World Cup in Zagreb, Croatia, which remains the best result by a South Korean.

Jung injured his knee four days ago during the giant slalom competition and has been receiving painkiller shots.

"I should have practiced in line with my training schedule, but due to the injury I was able to hit the slopes just yesterday. I had difficulty walking after the injury," Jung said after his first run.

South Korea's best performance in an Olympic alpine skiing event came in 1998, when Hur Seung-Wook finished 21st in the slalom.

Fellow South Korean skier Kim Dong-woo was disqualified after losing his balance in his first run. North Korea's Choe Myong-gwang finished 43rd, last among skiers who successfully finished both runs. Kang Song-il, another athlete from the North, was sidelined after slipping during his second run. (Yonhap)